Neodymium and Kilt Pins?

**Daaaaang** · 18th October 07, 02:34 PM

I just bought a bunch of rare-earth magnets at 25¢ each, and I am currently using four in a newly modified kilt pin. The magnets are a quarter inch in diameter, and my kilt pin looks the same as always. All I did was tear off the actual pin (leaving the stubs) and glued on two magnets.

I decided on two magnets so that the pin would stay oriented the same way (a sideways kilt pin would look weird). Right now I am using dollar store super glue, and just ordered some epoxy. The super glue is fine, but I figure better be safe, eh?

Anyway, I have done some running, just to see how much the pin moves, and after 10 minutes, it had moved about half an inch down the kilt. On the other hand, that is an improvement from before, when it would just fall out. I am thinking of getting a steel backing for the magnets on the other side, to strengthen the magnets (why not?) and to keep them together.

I would say to experiment with a cheap kilt pin, and you should just go ahead and epoxy a magnet to the pin. A quarter-inch magnet is not going to show (well, it doesn't on my pin anyway).

As for losing the pin, that happened a lot in pin form, but not yet in magnet form. Then again, I modified it two days ago, so I can't say for sure that it is flawless. I'll let you know in a couple weeks?

Oh, and I got my magnets from here:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,42363,42348

Also, this is my first post. Nice to be here.

Matt

P.S. I am also thinking of doing the same thing to a brooch when I finally get a fly plaid. I really don't like the idea of repeatedly putting a hole in a nice jacket. With kilt pins, at least it's down low where people probably won't look, but on a jacket, well, anyway, has anybody here modified a brooch?

**ccga3359** · 18th October 07, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Daaaaang

I just bought a bunch of rare-earth magnets at 25¢ each, and I am currently using four in a newly modified kilt pin. The magnets are a quarter inch in diameter, and my kilt pin looks the same as always. All I did was tear off the actual pin (leaving the stubs) and glued on two magnets.

I decided on two magnets so that the pin would stay oriented the same way (a sideways kilt pin would look weird). Right now I am using dollar store super glue, and just ordered some epoxy. The super glue is fine, but I figure better be safe, eh?

Anyway, I have done some running, just to see how much the pin moves, and after 10 minutes, it had moved about half an inch down the kilt. On the other hand, that is an improvement from before, when it would just fall out. I am thinking of getting a steel backing for the magnets on the other side, to strengthen the magnets (why not?) and to keep them together.

I would say to experiment with a cheap kilt pin, and you should just go ahead and epoxy a magnet to the pin. A quarter-inch magnet is not going to show (well, it doesn't on my pin anyway).

As for losing the pin, that happened a lot in pin form, but not yet in magnet form. Then again, I modified it two days ago, so I can't say for sure that it is flawless. I'll let you know in a couple weeks?

Oh, and I got my magnets from here:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,42363,42348

Also, this is my first post. Nice to be here.

Matt

P.S. I am also thinking of doing the same thing to a brooch when I finally get a fly plaid. I really don't like the idea of repeatedly putting a hole in a nice jacket. With kilt pins, at least it's down low where people probably won't look, but on a jacket, well, anyway, has anybody here modified a brooch?

First off, Welcome to X Marks from a few hours east in Ontario. You've already mentioned Lee Valley, they also sell high friction discs for their magnets, although to be honest I haven't tried them but they might add the needed friction. As I have a store five minutes from home I should experiment with them I suppose. Lastly one of the rabble (BEEDEE) uses another magnet on the inside of the apron to affix his pin, this would really increase the pull over a steel disc and one needn't be concerned with rust or the like.

**Mr. MacDougall** · 18th October 07, 07:53 PM

I actually picked up some magnets from KJ Magnetics, and I haven't modified a kilt pin with them, yet, but I probably will soon. In the mean time, I experimented with just wearing the magnets on the apron of my kilt, and I discovered that the only real problem I had was that they would "jump" to steel objects -- the railing of a staircase, the frame of a gurney -- if I came within a few inches of them. Which was kind of embarrassing. We'll see if they do the same thing with a pin attached.

**Red_Raven** · 6th November 07, 11:53 AM

ChromeScholar picked his up at Ace Hardware. I should think yu could find them in Flag as well. He epoxy set his with a five minute epoxy. less chance of them falling off.

**Jerry** · 17th November 07, 03:48 AM

quote:

Do you replace the pin on the jewelry with a piece of stainless steel, or do you find that there's enough ferrous content in most pewter jewelry not to need it? Have you ever had difficulty with losing a pin without noticing it?

Actually any good grade of stainless steel isn't magnetic, and wouldn't work. You'd need regular steel or iron.

**Daaaaang** · 17th November 07, 03:09 PM

I just use 100% magnets

**Daaaaang** · 3rd November 07, 12:03 PM

I finally got some epoxy and I just applied it to a kilt pin. I attached three magnets to be safe (it's not like they're expensive). Tomorrow or the next day I'll be sure to post a picture of what it looks like up close and also on a kilt.

I also attached a big 1" magnet to my fly plaid brooch without taking off the pin. I figure that if it doesn't work it won't get in the way, and there's no need to waste too much epoxy. But yeah, pictures later.

Matt!